The Dead Girls Dance Page 0,86

they were going very, very fast, and taking corners at speeds that would have given a drivers-ed instructor a heart attack. Not much traffic, at least, in this predawn darkness. That was something, Claire supposed. She clung to the stiff aftermarket shoulder belt as Eve screeched the big black Cadillac through a hairpin right-hand turn, then another, and into one of the storm-drain tunnels.

Oh God, Claire whispered. If shed been in danger of motion sickness before, it was ten times worse in the tunnel. She squeezed her eyes tight shut and tried to breathe. Between the dark, the panic, and the closed-in spaces, it wasnt exactly her best rescue attempt ever.

Almost there, Eve said, but Claire thought she said it to herself. Eve wasnt calm, either. That wasnot comforting. Left turn up ahead

Thats not a turn! Claire yelped, and braced herself against the dashboard as Eve slammed on the brakes and the big car shimmied and sprayed shallow water as it skidded. Thats a dead end!

Nope, thats a turn, Eve panted, fought the wheel, and somehowClaire had no idea howgot the car to make the impossible corner with only a little bang and scrape up against the concrete wall. Ouch. Thats gonna leave a mark. And she laughed, high and wild, and hit the gas again. Hold on, Claire Bear! Next stop, Crazytown!

Claire thought they were already there, actually.

She lost track of the nauseatingly twisty course they were following. In fact, she started to think that Eve didnt know where she was going at all, and was just making random turns hoping to find an exit, when suddenly the tunnel ended, and the car hit an upslope, and they rocketed out into the open darkness again.

Bond Street, Eve said. Home of upscale vampire shopping, fine restaurants, andoh shit.

She hit the brakes and brought them to a fast, complete stop that tossed Claire painfully against the restraints. Not that Claire noticed all that much, because like Eve, she was pretty much horror-struck by what she was seeing ahead.

Tell me thats not the place, she said.

Because if it was, the place was on fire.

Richard Morrells police cruiser was parked at the wrought-iron gates, its doors hanging open. The guys had bailed out fast. Eve moved the Caddy closer, then shut off the engine, and the two girls looked in dawning horror at the flames shooting out from the windows and roof of the big stone building.

Wheres the fire department? Claire asked. Where are the cops?

I dont know, but we cant count on help. Not tonight. Eve opened the door on her side and stepped out. Do you see them? Anywhere?

No! Claire flinched as glass exploded from one of the upper windows. Do you?

We have to go in!

Go in? Claire was about to point out how crazy that was, but then she saw someone inside the gates, lying very still. Eve! She ran to the gate and rattled it, but it was locked tight.

Up! Eve yelled, and scrambled up on the wrought iron. Claire followed. It was slippery and sharp, and cut her hands, but somehow she made it to the top, then dangled from the crossbar and let herself fall on the other side. She hit hard, and rolled clumsily back to her feet. Eve, whod come down a lot more gracefully, was already moving toward the guy lying on the ground

who was one of Franks guys. Dead. Eve looked up at Claire wordlessly and showed her the blood on her hand, shaking her head. He was shot, she said. Oh, God. Theyre inside, Claire. Michaels inside!

Only he wasnt, because between one blink and the next, as Eve tried to rush into the open smoke-filled door, Michael plunged out of it, and he grabbed her and hauled her back. No! he yelled. What the hell are you doing here?

Michael! Eve turned and threw herself into his arms. Wheres Monica?

In there. Michael looked terriblesmoke-stained and red-eyed, with little burned patches in his shirt. The others went in to get her. II had to come out.

Vampires could be killed by fire. Claire remembered that from the list shed made shortly after moving to Morganville. She couldnt believe hed risked his just barely begun life to get as far as hed gone.

Damn right you cant! Eve yelled. If you go and get yourself killed for Monica Morrell, Ill never forgive you!

It wouldnt be for Monica, he said. You know that.

They stared at the flames, waiting. Seconds ticked by, and there was no sign